Finally - The Column Awards nominations!

My apologies for not posting them sooner on this blog! My show opened this weekend (and it was a GREAT weekend!) so I have been a very busy woman for the past several days.

So, without further ado, here are the nominees for the 9th annual Column Awards!


SOUND DESIGN Play– Non-Equity

Andi Allen & Jamie Morris -The Facts of Life-Uptown Players

Wendy Bowman -Cat on a Hot Tin Roof-Grapevine's Runway Theatre

Heath Gage -Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse 5-Risk Theatre Initiative

Kyle McClaran -Murder on the Nile-Garland Civic Theatre

John Sanchez -A Christmas Story-OnStage in Bedford

Robin Stephens -Noises Off-ICT Mainstage


SOUND DESIGN Play– Equity

Andi Allen -Bent-Uptown Players

Andi Allen -Legends-Uptown Players

Kim Corbet -Freakshow-Core Performance Manufactory

Richard Frolich -Trysts in Toledo-Theatre Three

Heath Gage -The Pillowman-Kitchen Dog Theater

Marco E. Salinas -A Streetcar Named Desire-Contemporary Theatre of
Dallas


SOUND DESIGN Musical– Non-Equity

Cris Blake -La Cage Aux Folles-OnStage in Bedford

Kenny Green -The Full Monty-OnStage in Bedford

Virgil Justice -Project Youth-Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre

Jeff D. Sones -NINE-ICT Mainstage

David Thomas -Urinetown-Repertory Company Theatre

Wes Weisheit -The Will Rogers Follies-Garland Summer Musicals


SOUND DESIGN Musical– Equity

Bill Eickenloff -Hello Dolly!-Lyric Stage

Bill Eickenloff -West Side Story-Lyric Stage

Virgil Justice -Zanna Don't!-Uptown Players

Virgil Justice -bare-Uptown Players

Ryan Rumery -The Who's Tommy-Dallas Theater Center

Wes Weisheit -Damn Yankees-Garland Summer Musicals


COSTUME DESIGN Play– Non-Equity

Bruce R. Coleman -Moon Over Buffalo-Pocket Sandwich Theatre

Suzi Cranford -The Facts Of Life-Uptown Players

Kyle McClaran -Murder on the Nile-Garland Civic Theatre

Tory Padden -Noises Off-ICT Mainstage

Darius Anthony Robinson -Cat On a Hot Tin Roof-Runway Theatre

Sharon Wiltshire -Terra Nova-OnStage in Bedford


COSTUME DESIGN Play – Equity

Robin Armstrong -Litte Red Riding Hood-Theatre Britain

Jacob A. Climer -All's Well That Ends Well-Shakespeare Dallas

Bruce R. Coleman -Trysts in Toledo-Theatre Three

Suzi Cranford -Bent-Uptown Players

Aaron Patrick Turner -Full Moon Murders-Pegasus Theatre

Elizabeth Ware -Freakshow-Core Performance Manufactory


COSTUME DESIGN Musical– Non-Equity

Tina Barrus -Disney's Beauty & The Beast-Plaza Theatre Company

Lou Ann Cross -Thoroughly Modern Millie-Music Theatre of Denton

Deborah Gerard -Seussical-Garland Civic Theatre

Drenda Lewis -Ain't Misbehavin'-Jubilee Theatre

Michael Robinson -NINE-ICT Mainstage

Ryan Matthieu Smith -Sweeney Todd-Onstage in Bedford


COSTUME DESIGN Musical - Equity

Bruce R. Coleman & Mark C. Guerra -A Dog's Life-Theatre Three

Barbara Cox -A Year With Frog and Toad-Dallas Children's Theater

Suzi Cranford -bare-Uptown Players

Suzi Cranford -Zanna Don't!-Uptown Players

Greg Robbins -The Who's Tommy-Dallas Theater Center

Aaron Patrick Turner -A Funny Thing..Forum-Water Tower Theatre


LIGHTING DESIGN Play- Non-Equity

JaceSon Barrus -You Can't Take it With You-Plaza Theatre Company

Sam Nance -Noises Off-ICT Mainstage

Ana F. Petit -Cat on a Hot Tin Roof-Grapevine's Runway Theatre

Mark-Brian Sonna -Dante: Inferno-MBS Productions

Dave Tenney -Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-5-Risk Theater Initiative

Michael Winters -Terra Nova-OnStage in Bedford


LIGHTING DESIGN Play – Equity:

Russell K. Dyer -A Streetcar Named Desire-CTD

Jason Hill -Bent-Uptown Players

Adam Hughes -Legends-Uptown Players

Laura McMeley -Doubt, A Parable-Water Tower Theatre

Sam Nance -Full Moon Murders!-Pegasus Theatre

Amanda West -Trysts in Toledo-Theatre Three


LIGHTING DESIGN Musical – Non-Equity:

Paul Arnold -Footloose-Garland Civic Theatre

Cris Blake -La Cage Aux Folles-OnStage in Bedford

Michelle Burdeaux -Urinetown-Repertory Company Theatre

Sam Nance -NINE-ICT Mainstage

Ana F. Petit -The Boyfriend-Theatre Arlington

Michael Winters -Sweeney Todd-OnStage in Bedford


LIGHTING DESIGN Musical – Equity

Linda Blasé -A Year with Frog & Toad-Dallas Children's Theater

Russell K. Dyer -Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill-CTD

Jason Foster -bare-Uptown Players

Tyler Micoleau -The Who's Tommy-Dallas Theater Center

Julie Moroney -Zanna Don't!-Uptown Players

Sam Nance -The Light in the Piazza-Theatre Three


SCENIC DESIGN Play – Non-Equity

Dennis Canright -The Facts of Life-Uptown Players

Clare Floyd Devries -Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-5 RTI

Rodney Dobbs -Moon Over Buffalo-Pocket Sandwich Theatre

Paul Fiorella -Noises Off-ICT Mainstage

Paul Fiorella -Proof-ICT Mainstage

Sharon Veselic -Cat on a Hot Tin Roof-Grapevine's Runway Theatre


SCENIC DESIGN Play - Equity

Bruce R. Coleman -Bent-Uptown Players

Bruce R. Coleman -Crimes of the Heart-Theatre Three

Wade Giampa -Legends-Uptown Players

John Hobbie -Doubt, A Parable-Water Tower Theatre

Jeff Schmidt -Trysts in Toledo-Theatre Three

Randel Wright -A Streetcar Named Desire-Contemporary Theatre of Dallas


SCENIC DESIGN Musical – Non-Equity

Michelle Breedlove -Urinetown-Repertory Company Theatre

Dennis Canright, Thurston Wells, Jason Leyva -Cinderella-Artisan
Center Theatre

Robert Dennard -Sweeney Todd-OnStage in Bedford

Paul Fiorella -NINE-ICT Mainstage

Michelle Harvey -Working-Theatre Arlington

Mike Stephens -La Cage Aux Folles-OnStage in Bedford


SCENIC DESIGN Musical - Equity

Beowulf Borritt -The Who's Tommy-Dallas Theater Center

Clare Floyd Devries -Zanna Don't!-Uptown Players

Andy Redmon -bare-Uptown Players

David Walsh -The Light in the Piazza-Theatre Three

Randel Wright -A Year with Frog & Toad-Dallas Children's Theater

Randel Wright -A Funny Thing..Forum-Water Tower Theatre


STAGE MANAGER Play – Non-Equity

Alett Gray -Daisy in the Dreamtime-Echo Theatre

Evelyn G. Hall -Proof-ICT Mainstage

Jodi Kopaniky -Murder on the Nile-Garland Civic Theatre

Jessica McCartney -1984-Frisco Community Theatre

Cathy O'Neal -The Facts of Life-Uptown Players

Tom Ortiz -Noises Off-ICT Mainstage


STAGE MANAGER Play – Equity

Stew Awalt -Pillowman-Kitchen Dog Theatre

Cory Boulieris -Bent-Uptown Players

Amy Fisher -Legends-Uptown Players

Alett Gray -Freakshow-Core Performance Manufactory

Heidi Shen- Doubt, A Parable-Water Tower Theatre

Heidi Shen -As You Like It-Water Tower Theatre


STAGE MANAGER Musical – Non-Equity

Leslie Austin -Urinetown-Repertory Company Theatre

Jennifer Fortson -Sweeney Todd-OnStage in Bedford

J. Alan Hanna -The Will Rogers Follies-Garland Summer Musicals

Jodi Kopaniky -All Shook Up!-Garland Civic Theatre

Monica Teel Meadows -Footloose-Garland Civic Theatre

Stacey Street -NINE-ICT Mainstage


STAGE MANAGER Musical – Equity

Cory Boulieris -Zanna Don't!-Uptown Players

Melissa Daroff -The Who's Tommy-Dallas Theater Center

J. Alan Hanna -Damn Yankees-Garland Summer Musicals

K. Doug Miller -The Light in the Piazza-Theatre Three

Heidi Shen -A Funny Thing..Forum-WaterTower Theatre

Margaret J. Soch -Fiorello-Lyric Stage


Outstanding New Work By a Local Playwright

Bruce R. Coleman -Whatever Happened to Pixie DeCosta-Theatre Too

Linda Daugherty -Eat (It's NOT about Food)-Dallas Children's Theater

Patsy Hester Daussat -The Makeover-Grapevine's Runway Theatre

Bill Fountain -In Defense of Better Days-ICT Theatre on the Edge

Kurt Kleinman -Full Moon Murders!-Pegasus Theatre

Stephanie Riggs, Adam Wright, Jeff Kinman-Project Youth-Flower Mound
Performing Arts Theatre


Chita Rivera Dance Award – Female

Melissa Farmer -Zanna Don't!-Uptown Players

Lili Froelich -West Side Story-Lyric Stage

Emily Hardy -La Cage Aux Folles-OnStage in Bedford

Lindsey Holloway -Zanna Don't!-Uptown Players

Jennifer Laws -Damn Yankees-Garland Summer Musicals

Ashley LeGrow -NINE-ICT Mainstage


Chita Rivera Dance Award – Male

Ryan Cowles- La Cage Aux Folles -OnStage in Bedford

Jeremy Dumont -West Side Story-Lyric Stage

Carlos Gomez -Damn Yankees-Garland Summer Musicals

Luke Longacre -The Who's Tommy-Dallas Theater Center

Curt Mega -Footloose-Repertory Company Theatre

Darius Anthony Robinson -Footloose-Garland Civic Theatre


CHOREOGRAPHY OF A MUSICAL – Non-Equity

Todd Aragon -Footloose-Garland Civic Theatre

Ann Black-Scalf & Joanna Cawthom -Thoroughly Modern Millie-Music
Theatre of Denton

Eddie Floresca -The Full Monty-Onstage in Bedford

Darius Anthony Robinson -Urinetown-Repertory Company Theatre

Michael Serrecchia -NINE-ICT Mainstage

Clayton Younkin -Seussical-Garland Civic Theatre


CHOREOGRAPHY OF A MUSICAL – Equity

Joel Ferrell -The Who's Tommy-Dallas Theater Center

Nan Gammon -Zanna Don't-Uptown Players

Joseph Jones -Damn Yankees-Garland Summer Musicals

Paula Morelan -A Funny Thing..Forum-Water Tower Theatre

Vicki Squires -bare-Uptown Players

Kate Swan -West Side Story-Lyric Stage


MUSICAL DIRECTOR – Non Equity

Jeff Crouse -The Will Rogers Follies-Garland Summer Musicals

Scott A. Eckert -NINE-ICT Mainstage

Richard Gwozdz -La Cage Aux Folles-OnStage in Bedford

Pam Holcomb McLain -All Shook Up!-Garland Civic Theatre

Mark Miller -Working-Theatre Arlington

Jason Walker -Sweeney Todd-OnStage in Bedford


MUSICAL DIRECTOR – Equity

Lindy Heath Cabe -The Who's Tommy-Dallas Theater Center

Jeff Crouse -Damn Yankees-Garland Summer Musicals

Terry Dobson -The Light in the Piazza-Theatre Three

Terry Dobson & Vonda Bowling -A Dog's Life-Theatre Three

Kevin Gunter & Adam C. Wright -Zanna Don't!-Uptown Players

Adam C. Wright -bare-Uptown Players


DIRECTOR OF A PLAY – Non-Equity

Andi Allen -The Facts Of Life-Uptown Players

Rodney Dobbs -Moon Over Buffalo-Pocket Sandwich Theatre

Kyle McClaran -Murder on the Nile-Garland Civic Theatre

Dave Schmidt -Proof-ICT Mainstage

Jill Stephens -Noises Off-ICT Mainstage

Sharon Veselic -Cat on a Hot Tin Roof-Grapevine's Runway Theatre


DIRECTOR OF A PLAY – Equity

Andi Allen -Legends-Uptown Players

Robin Armstrong -Unnecessary Farce-Circle Theatre

Bruce R. Coleman -Bent-Uptown Players

Terry Dobson -Crimes of the Heart-Theatre Three

Terry Martin -Doubt, A Parable-Water Tower Theatre

Rene Moreno -A Streetcar Named Desire-Contemporary Theatre of Dallas


DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL– Non-Equity

Michelle Breedlove -Urinetown-Repertory Company Theatre

Kyle McClaran -All Shook Up!-Garland Civic Theatre

Chris Robinson -La Cage Aux Folles-Onstage in Bedford

Terri Hagar Scherer -The Full Monty-Onstage in Bedford

Michael Serrecchia -NINE-ICT Mainstage

Dennis Yslas -Sweeney Todd-Onstage in Bedford


DIRECTOR OF A MUSICAL – Equity

Bruce R. Coleman -A Dog's Life-Theatre Three

Coy Covington -Zanna Don't!-Uptown Players

Cheryl Denson -bare-Uptown Players

Kevin Moriarty -The Who's Tommy-Dallas Theater Center

Michael Serrecchia -The Light In The Piazza-Theatre Three

Buff Shurr -Damn Yankees-Garland Summer Musicals


FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY – Non-Equity

Cindy Beall -Moon Over Buffalo-Pocket Sandwich Theatre

Crystal Hires -Cat on a Hot Tin Roof-Grapevine's Runway Theatre

Jessica Kitchens -My Three Angels-Grapevine's Runway Theatre

Kelly McCain -Shakespeare....Modern Man Lesson 1 Macbeth-ICT Mainstage

Marilyn Setu -Murder on the Nile-Garland Civic Theatre

Laura Warner -Steel Magnolias-Repertory Company Theatre


FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY – Non-Equity

DeWayne Blundell -Attack of the Killer Mutant Leeches-Pocket Sandwich

Cameron Leighton Kirkpatrick -The Facts of Life-Uptown Players

Tony Martin -Moon Over Buffalo-Pocket Sandwich Theatre

Andrew Phifer -Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse 5-RTI

Greg Phillips -The Odd Couple-Richardson Theatre Centre

Mark-Brian Sonna -Dante: Inferno-MBS Productions


FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY – Equity

Kerry Cole -Garden-Theatre Too

Marisa Diotalevi -House-Theatre Three

Tippi Hunter -A Streetcar Named Desire-Contemporary Theatre of Dallas

M. Denise Lee -Doubt, A Parable-Water Tower Theatre

Susan McMath Platt -The Oldest Living Graduate-CTD

Colleen O'Connor -Trysts in Toledo-Theatre Three


FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY - Equity

Andrew W. Cope -A Streetcar Named Desire-CTD

Chamblee Ferguson -As You Like It-Water Tower Theatre

David Lugo -The Mummy's Claw-Dallas Children's Theater

Michael Salimitari -Trysts in Toledo-Theatre Three

Terry Vandivort -House-Theatre Three

Clayton Younkin -Bent-Uptown Players


FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL – Non-Equity

Stacie Cleland -Cabaret-Theatre Coppell

Deborah Dennard -Sweeney Todd-OnStage in Bedford

Stephanie Felton -NINE-ICT Mainstage

Sarah Geist -NINE-ICT Mainstage

Julie T. Penkava -Footloose-Garland Civic Theatre

Kristin Spires -La Cage Aux Folles-OnStage in Bedford


FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL – Non-Equity

Ryan Cowles -La Cage Aux Folles-Onstage in Bedford

Chris Edwards -La Cage Aux Folles-Onstage in Bedford

Jarvon Hughes -Thoroughly Modern Millie-Repertory Company Theatre

Drew Kelly -Thoroughly Modern Millie-Repertory Company Theatre

Danny Miranda -Urinetown-Repertory Company Theatre

Jack Perl -Footloose-Garland Civic Theatre


FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL – Equity

Beth Albright -bare-Uptown Players

Melissa Farmer -Zanna Don't!-Uptown Players

Emily Habeck -The Who's Tommy -Dallas Theater Center

Susan Mansur -A Funny Thing..Forum-Water Tower Theatre

Amy Mills -Madeline's Christmas-Dallas Children's Theater

Delynda Moravec -Damn Yankees-Garland Summer Musicals


FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL – Equity

Jack Agnew -The Light in the Piazza-Theatre Three

Joshua Doss -The Who's Tommy-Dallas Theater Center

Jeremy Dumont -West Side Story-Lyric Stage

Thomas Renner -Zanna Don't!-Uptown Players

Darius Anthony Robinson -A Year With Frog & Toad-DCT

Clayton Younkin -bare-Uptown Players


SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY – Non-Equity

Angela Allen -Terra Nova-OnStage in Bedford

Robin Clayton -Steel Magnolias-Repertory Company Theatre

Dana Harrison -Dearly Beloved-Grapevine's Runway Theatre

Lana Kay Hoover -The Book Of Liz-Theatre Arlington

Jennifer Sipes -Crimes of the Heart-Garland Civic Theatre

Krishna Smitha -Noises Off-ICT Mainstage


SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY – Non-Equity

Scott Higgins -Noises Off-ICT Mainstage

Kevin Moore -The Facts of Life-Uptown Players

Chad Peterson -The Facts of Life-Uptown Players

Zac Ramsey -In Defense of Better Days-ICT On The Edge

Garrett Schenck -Proof -ICT Mainstage

Beau Trujillo -Moon Over Buffalo-Pocket Sandwich Theatre


SUPPORTING ACTRESS ON THE PLAY – Equity

Marianne Galloway -A Streetcar Named Desire-CTD

Natalie King -Legends-Uptown Players

Jennifer Pasion -Unnecessary Farce-Circle Theatre

Sheila D. Rose -Don Juan Tenorio…-Teatro Dallas

Morgana Shaw -Crimes of the Heart-Theatre Three

Jessica Wiggers -Doubt, A Parable-Water Tower Theatre


SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY – Equity

Russell DeGrazier -A Streetcar Named Desire-CTD

Gary Floyd -Crimes of the Heart-Theatre Three

Stan Graner -Bent-Uptown Players

Andrew Phifer -Bent-Uptown Players

Jeff Swearingen -Trysts in Toledo-Theatre Three

Paul Taylor -Bent-Uptown Players


SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL – Non-Equity

Megan Kelly-Bates -NINE-ICT Mainstage

Sarah Geist -Sweeney Todd-OnStage In Bedford

Katherine Gentsch -Footloose-Garland Civic Theatre

Rose Anne Holman -The Full Monty-OnStage in Bedford

Christian O'Neill Houston -All Shook Up!-Garland Civic Theatre

Amanda Hart Walker -NINE-ICT Mainstage


SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL– Non-Equity

Walter Cunningham -La Cage Aux Folles-OnStage in Bedford

Drew Kelly -All Shook Up!-Garland Civic Theatre

Tyler Martin -Sweeney Todd-OnStage in Bedford

Chance Jonas-O'Toole -NINE-ICT Mainstage

Jason Villareal -Working-Theatre Arlington

Clayton Younkin -Footloose-Garland Civic Theatre


SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL – Equity

Emily Antrainer -Damn Yankees-Garland Summer Musicals

Lindsey Holloway -Zanna Don't!-Uptown Players

Sara Shelby-Martin -bare-Uptown Players

Liz Mikel -The Who's Tommy-Dallas Theater Center

Carrie Slaughter -The Light in the Piazza-Theatre Three

Liz Woodcock -bare-Uptown Players


SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL – Equity

James Chandler -Zanna Don't!-Uptown Players

Doug Fowler -Damn Yankees-Garland Summer Musicals

Sean Patrick Henry -A Funny Thing..Forum-WaterTower Theatre

Gregory Lush -The Who's Tommy-Dallas Theater Center

Darius Anthony Robinson -bare-Uptown Players

Jordan Willis -The Light in the Piazza-Theatre Three


BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY – Non-Equity

Angela Allen -Noises Off-ICT Mainstage

Catherine Dubord -Proof -ICT Mainstage

Cindee Mayfield -Moon Over Buffalo-Pocket Sandwich Theatre

Julie T. Penkava -Crimes of the Heart-Garland Civic Theatre

Susan McMath Platt -Are You Being Served?-Garland Civic Theatre

Mary-Margaret Pyett -Daisy in the Dreamtime-Echo Theatre


BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY – Non-Equity

Arvin Combs -Murder on the Nile-Garland Civic Theatre

Jon Morehouse -Are You Being Served?-Garland Civic Theatre

Chris Robinson -The Facts Of Life-Uptown Players

T. A. Taylor -Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse 5-Risk Theater Initiative

Paul J. Williams -The Facts Of Life-Uptown Players

Jordan Willis -Proof-ICT Mainstage


BEST ACTRESS IN A PLAY – Equity

Lydia Mackay -A Streetcar Named Desire-Contemporary Theatre of Dallas

Morgana Shaw -Freakshow-Core Performance Manufactory

Carrie Slaughter -Crimes of the Heart-Theatre Three

Trisha Miller Smith -Crimes of the Heart-Theatre Three

Allison Tollman -Almost Maine-WaterTower Theatre

Jessica Wiggers -A Streetcar Named Desire-CTD


BEST ACTOR IN A PLAY – Equity

Regan Adair -Doubt, A Parable-Water Tower Theatre

B.J. Cleveland -Legends-Uptown Players

Coy Covington -Legends-Uptown Players

Kevin Moore -Bent-Uptown Players

David Plunkett -Bent-Uptown Players

Lee Trull -The Pillowman-Kitchen Dog Theater


BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL– Non-Equity

Christine Atwell -Disney's Beauty and the Beast-Plaza Theatre Company

Patty Breckenridge -NINE-ICT Mainstage

Patty Granville -The Will Rogers Follies-Garland Summer Musicals

Brittany Levrea -Footloose-Repertory Theatre Company

Sara Shelby-Martin -NINE-ICT Mainstage

Kristin Spires -Sweeney Todd-Onstage In Bedford


BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL – Non-Equity

Lon Barrera -La Cage Aux Folles-Onstage in Bedford

Jamey Cheek -Sweeney Todd-Onstage in Bedford

Donald Fowler -Nine-ICT Mainstage

Gregory Hullett -All Shook Up!-Garland Civic Theatre

Darius Anthony Robinson -Footloose-Garland Civic Theatre

Angel Velasco -Urinetown-Repertory Company Theatre


BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL – Equity (TIE)

Megan Kelly-Bates -A Dog's Life-Theatre Three

Kayla Carlyle -bare-Uptown Players

Julie Johnson -Hello Dolly!-Lyric Stage

M. Denise Lee -Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill-CTD

Morgana Shaw -Damn Yankees-Garland Summer Musicals

Wendy Welch -The Light In The Piazza-Theatre Three

Kimberly Whalen -The Light In The Piazza-Theatre Three


BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL– Equity (TIE)

Ryan Cowles -Zanna Don't-Uptown Players

Joshua Doss -bare-Uptown Players

Brian Hathaway -A Year with Frog & Toad -Dallas Children's Theatre

Sean Patrick Henry -bare-Uptown Players

Gregory Lush -A Dog's Life-Theatre Three

Curt Mega -The Light In the Piazza-Theatre Three

Cedric Neal -The Who's Tommy-Dallas Theater Center


BEST PLAY OF THE YEAR – Non-Equity

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof -Grapevine's Runway Theatre

Murder on the Nile -Garland Civic Theatre

Noises Off -ICT Mainstage

Proof -ICT Mainstage

The Facts of Life -Uptown Players

Topdog / Underdog -Upstart Productions


BEST PLAY OF THE YEAR– Equity

A Streetcar Named Desire -Contemporary Theatre of Dallas

Bent -Uptown Players

Doubt, A Parable -WaterTower Theatre

Freakshow -Core Performance Manufactory

Legends -Uptown Players

The Pillowman -Kitchen Dog Theater


BEST MUSICAL OF THE YEAR – Non-Equity

All Shook Up! -Garland Civic Theatre

Cinderella -Artisan Center Theatre

Footloose -Garland Civic Theatre

NINE -ICT Mainstage

Sweeney Todd -OnStage in Bedford

The Full Monty -OnStage in Bedford


BEST MUSICAL OF THE YEAR – Equity (TIE)

A Year With Frog & Toad -Dallas Children's Theater

bare -Uptown Players

Damn Yankees -Garland Summer Musicals

The Light in the Piazza -Theatre Three

The Who's Tommy -Dallas Theater Center

West Side Story -Lyric Stage

Zanna Don't! -Uptown Players

The 10th Annual Column Awards - Nominees announced later today!

I'm so excited!

For those of you who do not subscribe to The Column by John Garcia, I strongly suggest that you click on that link over on the sidebar and get yourself subscribed immediately. In my opinion, it is the best Dallas/Ft. Worth area resource for up-to-date audition notices, theatre reviews, and updates from the theatre community at large (regional, Broadway, film, etc).

Every year, John Garcia and his team put together an awards ceremony recognizing and honoring local talents. Every year I've read The Column and read about the awards ceremony, but this year marks my first year voting.

It took me over an hour to get through Round One of the voting ballots, and I am waiting on pins and needles to hear the official nominees announced later today.

Stay tuned!

A Feminine Ending - WaterTower Theatre

Photo: Chad Halbrook and Jessica Wiggers in A Feminine Ending by Sarah Treem (photo by Mike Wang)

Disclaimer: I wrote this review on February 8, 2009, after a performance on the same date. This review is unsolicited.

Amanda Blue (played by Jessica Wiggers) tells us in the opening lines of A Feminine Ending that, "For anyone who cares to know or knows enough to care," there are gender roles in music - masculine and feminine. A feminine ending is characterized by a musical phrase or movement ending on an "unstressed, or weak cadence." She goes on to muse about how clearly gender roles are asserted not only in music or in language, but also in life and in the choices one makes or the expectations he or she is supposed to meet.

An aspiring composer, Amanda must put her dreams on hold as she works a less than fulfilling day job to support her "almost famous" fiancé, Jack Handel (Chad Halbrook) as a means to reach the extraordinary life he has promised they will have some day. As Jack rises in his quest for fame, Amanda becomes increasingly discontent with her life, a problem that is exacerbated by a frantic phone call from her mother Kim (Cindy Beall), imploring Amanda to come home to New Hampshire for the weekend. It turns out that Kim has, once again, decided to assert herself and leave her husband David (Jerry Crow). As Amanda's frustration level rises and she decides to go back to New York, she runs into The One That Got Away, her high school boyfriend Billy (Dan Forsythe).

Throughout the course of Sarah Treem's beautifully written script, Amanda finds herself in a position in which she must evaluate her career, her impending marriage, her role as a daughter, and finally make a decision as to whether or not she wants to continue putting the needs of others before her own dreams and aspirations.

As the costume designer as well as in her directorial debut, Emily Scott Banks shines. The actors clearly understand the relationships between their characters, and they move and interact with a purpose and an ease and comfort that makes them heartbreakingly realistic. Her costume design is simple, but wonderfully symbolic. Amanda's scarves in the first act, while stylish and attractive, seem to represent the choke-hold that is placed upon her by her fear of going out on a limb and rejecting conventions. Jack's outfits change by scene, and are almost comically trendy: an intentionally weathered pair of jeans, a retro-western shirt with pearl snaps, and a foam-front cap placed on top of sexy, tousled hair.

The technical aspects of this production are flawless. Leann Ellis's lighting design coupled with sound designer Emily Young's choices of songs and musical interludes brought goosebumps to my arms at times. There are beautiful and intricate gobos used to indicate falling snow, a blooming tree, an apple orchard, all of which subtly enhance what might otherwise be long and tedious monologues within the script. Set designer Clare Floyd-DeVries creates a beautiful, simplistic set that is functional as well as eye-catching. What appears at first to be a simple wooden set later showcases a hidden bed (which doubles as a couch in the scenes taking place in Amanda's New Hampshire home) or an end table. The walls of the studio theatre are draped with flowing curtains of chiffon, giving a soft and feminine feeling that is not lost in its symbolism.

The major kudos of this production, however, must go to the actors. There is not a weak moment in this production. Chad Halbrook, a gorgeous man who is not shy about showing off his body, plays Jack flawlessly. The character of Jack lends itself to being easily played as a shallow, wannabe rock star, but Halbrook gives Jack more depth than that, and creates some tender moments with Amanda as easily as he makes the audience laugh. Cindy Beall and Jerry Crow are equal parts funny and poignant as Amanda's estranged parents. Beall gives a powerful performance as a housewife who, after 30 years of burying her passions in order to be a dutiful wife and mother, finally decides to follow her own dreams. Crow makes a grand impression in his little stage time as Amanda's father, a man who has likely had the same routine for 30 years, and is truly stunned that his wife would leave him, after what we are led to believe have been several threats over the course of their marriage.

As Amanda's high school boyfriend Billy, Dan Forsythe brings an entirely different dynamic to the cast. He is simple, kind, and lacks pretention. While at first he appears to be a bit of a goofball, we discover with Amanda that he is intelligent and well-spoken, and Amanda's rekindled attraction to him in the apple orchard is understandable and believable. My only issue with Forsythe's performance is his choice of dialect, which unfortunately emphasizes the "goofball" aspect a bit too much at times. I was unsure if this was a character choice or an attempt at a New England accent. Nevertheless, his portrayal of Billy is endearing and lovely.

The standout performer in this cast is Jessica Wiggers as Amanda. She rarely leaves the stage, and she stays connected to the character at all times. When she breaks the proverbial "fourth wall" and addresses the audience directly, it is natural and conversational, and she moves back into her interactions with other characters seamlessly and effortlessly. She even deadpans some of her pantomimed actions to the audience ("I'm back in New York now...and this is the door to my apartment") humorously, but without taking them out of the moment or distracting from the emotional environment she's created in a previous scene. She's wonderfully real, and any person in the audience should be able to empathize with at least one, if not several, of the stops along Amanda's journey to find and "trust a woman's voice in a man's world."

The play runs through February 13, 2009 at the WaterTower Theatre in Addison, Texas. The studio theatre is small and tickets will likely sell out quickly, so run - don't walk - to the website or to the nearest phone, and buy your tickets now for this beautiful and thought-provoking piece of theatre. You will be glad you did.

Welcome!

Welcome to the DFW Backstage Blog!

I am hoping that this blog will serve several purposes:

1. A "performer's perspective" on the creation process of a production: the auditions, the rehearsal process, the backstage antics, etc. I've always found it really interesting (and at times inspiring) to see the "nuts and bolts" of a rehearsal process from a performer's point of view, so I'm hoping that my readers will do the same.

2. Reviews of shows and productions that I see in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. Please note that, at least at this time, these reviews are unsolicited, and I am not being paid or coerced into writing them. I will also not review productions that I am a part of.

3. Articles and quotations that I find thought-provoking or educational about the art of performing, new productions in the works, etc.

Thank you for stopping by. This is a brand new project for me, and for a while it will probably be a "work-in-progress." If you have any questions, thoughts, or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment or email me (look over on the sidebar for contact information!).